Published Sep 05, 2026 | 12:33 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 05, 2026 | 6:44 PM
Ex-DMK minister KN Nehru. (Umar Sharieef)
Synopsis: The Tamil Nadu Vigilance Department is conducting simultaneous searches at 19 locations linked to former minister KN Nehru and his brother over alleged tender irregularities. The raids follow an ED letter concerning a ₹1,020 crore bribe towards “party funds”. DMK president MK Stalin has slammed the action as politically motivated.
The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) is conducting simultaneous searches at 19 locations across Tamil Nadu linked to former Municipal Administration and Water Supply Minister KN Nehru and his brother KN Ravichandran.
The searches began early Saturday morning and are being carried out at more than 10 locations in Chennai, including premises in Alwarpet, RA Puram, Adyar, Thiruvanmiyur and Anna Nagar, as well as locations in Tiruchirappalli and other parts of the state.
Among the premises being searched are KN Nehru’s residence in Alwarpet, his brother Ravichandran’s residence in RA Puram and an office associated with Ravichandran.
The searches are reportedly linked to allegations of irregularities and corruption in the award of government contracts under the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, including allegations that money was collected in the name of party funds.
The action follows allegations earlier raised by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) concerning tender-related irregularities and alleged financial transactions involving Nehru, his brother and persons associated with them.
In a letter sent to the Tamil Nadu DGP and other senior officials in December last year, the ED had reportedly alleged irregularities in contracts relating to housing for sanitation workers, road works, NABARD projects and engaging sanitation workers on a contract basis.
The ED had alleged that bribes were collected in connection with the awarding of contracts and said supporting documents had been submitted to substantiate its allegations.
The ED’s letter had subsequently surfaced on social media, triggering controversy. The agency also approached the court over the disclosure of the letter, while an investigation by the CB-CID into the leak remains pending.
The current DVAC searches are part of the investigation into the allegations. Further details regarding documents or other materials seized during the searches are awaited.
The investigation centres on allegations that money was collected from private companies and government contractors in the name of a DMK “party fund” in connection with contracts awarded by the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department.
The allegations include claims that 7.5% to 10% of the estimated value of contracts was collected as bribes or party contributions in return for favouring particular companies in the tender process.
The alleged irregularities are said to involve several categories of contracts, including housing for sanitation workers, road works, NABARD-funded projects and engaging sanitation workers on a contract basis.
The ED had sent the letter detailing its allegations to the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police and Chief Secretary in December last year.
The ED had alleged that government officials and others had not only received money as bribes but that payments were also allegedly made to “party funds”.
The ED subsequently approached the court over the alleged disclosure of the letter. The matter concerning the leak is being investigated by the CB-CID.
The latest case also comes amid earlier allegations concerning recruitment in the Municipal Administration Department.
It had been alleged that money was collected for filling 2,538 posts, with candidates allegedly charged between ₹25 lakh and ₹35 lakh per post, amounting to an alleged ₹888 crore.
Following directions from the Madras High Court, the DVAC had registered cases against Nehru and his relatives in June. Searches were subsequently carried out at various locations, including Nehru’s residence in Thillai Nagar, Tiruchirappalli.
The present searches across Chennai, Tiruchirappalli and other parts of Tamil Nadu are specifically linked to the allegations concerning tender irregularities and the alleged collection of money as party funds.
Further details regarding the sections invoked in the FIR, the identities of the other 10 accused and the documents or materials seized during the searches are awaited.
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin has condemned the searches at locations linked to ex-minister Nehru, alleging that the action was politically motivated.
In a statement, Stalin said the searches were being conducted at a time when a case was pending before the High Court and the Assembly session was underway.
He alleged that the TVK government had undertaken the searches “purely for political reasons” and accused the government of using such actions to divert public attention.
Stalin also stated that people were aware of instances in which MLAs from other parties were allegedly made to resign and subsequently inducted into the ruling party within the Assembly premises, describing it as “horse-trading”. He further claimed that the DVAC had not even registered an FIR on complaints related to such allegations.
Calling the practice a “dark side of Indian democracy”, Stalin accused the government of once again resorting to diversionary tactics.
He said Nehru and the DMK would not be intimidated by what he described as “such threats” from the new government and would challenge them through legal means and emerge victorious.
Nehru said the DVAC conducted searches at his residences in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli, as well as at his brother’s residence and office, from 8 am to 3 pm on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters after the searches, Nehru said the officials had come to investigate alleged irregularities in tenders but claimed that nothing incriminating was found or seized from his premises.
He said the officials took a routine file from his office and documents relating to his brother’s income and expenditure, after recording the details and obtaining their signatures.
Nehru said he and his family fully cooperated with the officials during the searches. He also denied having spoken to anyone regarding the alleged tender irregularities.
“I have not spoken to anyone regarding the tender,” Nehru said, adding that he would face the matter legally based on whatever further action is taken by the authorities.
Nehru noted that the DVAC had previously registered a case against him, which is currently pending before the court. However, he said the officials did not question him about that case during Saturday’s searches.
“We have not committed any wrongdoing. We will go to court and prove that we are innocent,” he said.
Nehru alleged that the searches could have been carried out to intimidate him because he had been repeatedly raising questions against the state government in the Assembly. He described the searches as an act of political vendetta.
He said previous Chief Ministers had ordered DVAC searches at his residence twice when the DMK was in the Opposition, and that Saturday’s search was the third such operation against him.
Nehru further alleged that the state government was acting cautiously towards the Union government to avoid antagonising it, citing recent developments in the Assembly.
He said DMK president MK Stalin advised him to cooperate with officials.
From our archives:
ED alleges massive bribery in TN MAWS contracts; Minister KN Nehru terms charges ‘slander campaign’
Madras HC quashes CBI case against Tamil Nadu Minister KN Nehru’s brother
(Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
